Daily Republican., 1887-09-23
TWO SCHEMERS.
"Oh what q tangled web we weave
When first we practice TO deceive"

"Oh what tangled web we weave
When first we practice 10 deceive"
The widow Smith sat up late, read .
Ing the county paper; usually the
Weekly Budget did not interest her,
but on this occasion she read and re. .
read certain part of its columns and
laid it down at last with sigh.
"Wants wife, does he?" she mused
aloud; "tired of liyin' alone. It's q
|peart chance for some one to get a
good husband eff he's what he adver-
|tises.''
Then she resumed the paper and
studied 1t carefully.
asa good pervider.' That's one
|pint. 'Middls.aged and well.to-do.'
Laws, if it wasn't for the"
The widow stopped abruptly, and
looked around with startled express
sion.
ut must have been the cat" she
said TO herself. 81 am as nervous as
a mouse. I'm sure there aint any harm
in 1t. II he hadn't been so particular
that he wanted q widow without
any"
Then she broke off abruptly and sat
thinking.
'I've heerd tell" she mused, that
a man who amounted to ennything
wouldn't have to advertise for wife.
All alone in the world Poor man
/ feel uncommonly drawn toward him.
Likes peace and quiet So do !.
We're Of one mind there. I'd answer
it If it wasn't for the"
The clock striking startled her.
After long fit of thinking she went
to the clock shelf and took down a pen
and bottle Of ink; then she looked in
the family bible and found some writ
ing paper.
1t took the Widow Smith long
time to compose that letter. When
she finally had it in her mind she read
1t great many times.
II hope I haven't done wrong" she
said to her conscience. But l can al.
most see the hand of Providence
piniin' the way. "A widower an we'll
to-do, alone In the world 1t would
be almost wicked not 10 try"
Then she wound up the clock, rut
the light out and was soon dreaming
of a new adorer.
Nr. Josiah Brown, a comfortable
farmer who lived In the Lext town
ship, was the man whose advertise.
ment for wife had enlisted the SYM
pathy of the Widow Smith. He had
been In the lonely and forlorn state OF
q widower about year, and was tired
Of a single life. He cast his eye, tigu.
ratively speaking, upon all the widows
in his neighborhood, but they found nc
favor in his sight; 80 he advertised iu
the Weekly Budget and had half q
bushel of letters in answer to his de-
mand.
All the answers had attraction, bu
there was only one that seemed to full
fill his expectations. 1t was tidy
little missive and was signed "Widow
Smlth." "She don't hum and haw an
beat round the bush, but comes righ,
Ito the point like a man," he said to
himself. SO he wrote to her, and il
|due time a second letter came. l
pleased him more than the first.
"She's Mrs. Brown No. g" h,
|chuckled. 'She says she's small -
like leetle wimmin-has farm an
Igood house, an of course is all alon,
in the world or she wouldn't have an
swered at all. Says her friends cal
her a good housekeeper. She's
master hand to write-begins ever
word with capital an she's ap
lpointed a meetin' at Gabriel Simp
!son's! Sho! I've known Gabe senc
1--we was boys together. l wonder {
hel help me out about the"
The good man choked abruptly, an
seemed Hurried.
4 "She won't mind arter we're jined
I'm appint next Thursday to meet
Friday amt lucky an Saturday is to
near Sunday. III tell Simpson t
keep dark till l come there. Wonde
if the widder's good lookin'. Wonde
if she'll be Disappointed"
The widow was first at Simpsons
and held her best ear for privat
: audience. Then she was all smiles
talking over picking and preservin
recipes with Mrs. Simpson, who wa
an old acquaintance. When Josia
Brown drove up with his span {
grays, best Sunday coat on, best foe
foremost, the widow was observin
him from behind the curtains of th
sitting.r, ON window.
"W-e-l L" she said with a Ion
? breath, she amt TO say han sun
8 He's leetle bow-legged, an has
: cast in one eye. dunno as I'd hav
!. him if 1t wasn't for the"
Il Before she had finished Mr.. Simr
=. son was presenting MIR. Brown, an
: then all hands sat down to "biled
dinner.
: 81 like good vittles," said the vic
I over, with a knowing glance at h
vis.a-vis, the widow, and he passe
his plate for the third time.